A fun way for kids to learn about sustainable living and various alternative energy solutions, this kit has loads of experiments and models to build. Kids can find out how to build solar cells, passive solar collectors, a solar oven, a wind power generator, a lemon battery, a greenhouse, an air conditioner and more. It is intended for kids of 10+ and comes with full instructions for all 30 experiments and 10 building projects. It would make a great gift for curious kids who are keen on saving the planet, or just electronic whizzes who want to go green.
The Green Power House currently costs $49.97 from Discovery Store.com

I’m not very fussy with pens, many times I prefer your classic clear ballpoint pen for writing checks, taking notes, doodling while on the phone, and an occasional sketch. If I wrote long cursive essays about how I spent my summer or breathy entries in my daily diary I’d probably want to go with the elegant fountain pen but as most of my pen use takes less than a minute or two I’m happy with the basics.

With my lack of pen connoisseurship in mind, I enjoyed trying out this new B2P pen from Pilot and was sold by the fact this new pen is made from 89.9 percent post-consumer recycled content made me take note. Taking just one plastic bottle out of the landfill makes approximately two of these pens, it probably won’t make much difference to the sorry state of plastic pollution in our landfills where some 50% of potentially recyclable materials there are from recyclable plastic bottles that people thoughtlessly ditch anyway. Every little bit helps and we have to start somewhere; the more we can reuse plastic for something as worthwhile as a decent pen then all the better.

The pen itself worked great for me, I liked the satisfying click, it works, the roller-ball ink didn’t skip and wrote smoothly and is still working fine after a couple of weeks of using it off and on. It looks a little like a the water bottle that it brings new life and is an attractive clear blue with water bottle swirly indentations with its design. The pen uses the Pilot G2 gel ink refill. I tried the blue but also comes in black and red.

Here is a doodle/sketch I made with this pen – silly drawing but I had fun with it and the pen did its job pretty well.

$23.20 for 12 pens at Amazon.com

You don’t want a plain old, dull charger for your hip new iPhone, do you? Of course not! You need this snazzy bright red Solar Energy Charger, which can also be juiced up via the AC adapter. Think how cool it will look soaking up the sun on the table at your favorite outdoor café. Available from Senyx at Amazon, $17.91.

This handy item not only saves you from spending money on expensive non-rechargeable batteries, it reduces waste. You can recharge up to four AA, AAA, C or D cells or up to two 9V batteries at once, and at $19.99, this one will pay for itself in no time! Available at Gaiam.com.

This laundry detergent is made plant based non polluting ingredients. It is scented with natural flower scents. You can purchase this detergent from Amazon